The Fabis had the right idea

Hat tip to Midweek Motorsport Fantasy Leaguer, Jeff Ianucci at the excellent www.mynameisirl.com for reminding me of the fact that Teo Fabi bagged pole as a rookie in 1983. Doorknobs is making a bid to repeat that achievement although it is very early and I won't get remotely excited on the Dutchman's behalf.

It did get me thinking about how he made it back to the brickyard with Forsythe Racing in 1984 while racing for Brabham in Formula 1. The answer, was of course, very much like me, enormously simple - job sharing! It was a family affair too as Teo stepped out of the car for the races in Monaco and Canada to be replaced by his younger brother Corrado.Corrado was the 1982 European Formula 2 Champion was, on paper, an ideal replacement for his big bother.



Teo Fabi racing for Forsythe (right) while Corrado (left) waits in the wings wearing a hat

But how would this work for other teams and drivers? I really couldn't see Colin Chapman being too happy about Mario Andretti offering his twin bother Aldo as his replacement at Lotus in 1978, although in fairness Aldo could well have beaten most of the field that season in the all conquering Lotus 79. Or how about Roger Penske embracing Wilson Fittipaldi's substitution of Emmo during the great years in CART?

And there isn't a team manager on earth who would fall for the old Michael to Ralf Schumacher switcheroo...is there?

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US GPE - Driver Power Rankings

There is no on track action at Indy today, due to the weather, and the US GPE site is still very much 'coming soon', so I thought I would take this opportunity to start tracking and rating the potential candidates for the USGPE race seats in 2010 and beyond.

The easiest place to start is with the list that Peter Windsor himself supplied at the press launch on Speed TV earlier this season. One must presume that the young Americans furthest up the 'staircase of talent' are closer to getting their backsides in the car than those further down. So let's start at the top and work downwards.

RIGHT NOW

1. JR Hildebrand - Firestone Indy Lights/A1GP
2009, 2 Pole Positions, 1 win (Long Beach)
After a faltering start to the season at St Petersburg, Hidlebrand proved his worth with a win on the streets of Long Beach.More significantly, however, was his immediate pace and performance at Brands Hatch in the final round of the A1GP series last weekend. He qualified and finished fourth in the sprint race ahead of many of the established drivers in the series and showed a terrific ability to rapidly adapt to a new car and unfamiliar surroundings.


2. Jonathan Summerton - Firestone Indy Lights
2009, Firestone Indy Lights Points Leader
Summerton's consistency and ability to keep his nose clean has given him a 4 point lead in the Indy Lights standings but rather worryingly, we are yet to see the consistent speed needed to win in the category. It is hard to see any driver making an impression in F1 if he cannot dominate let alone win races in the junior categories. The Floridian has already had talks with USGPE and his extensive experience in Europe could well work in his favor. He is also the only US driver to have a victory in A1GP (China 2008).


3. AJ Allmendinger - NASCAR Sprint Cup:
At the time of the USGPE launch, AJ Allmendinger had a limited Sprint Cup schedule with Richard Perry Motorsports and quite a lot of free time on his year planner. 10 races into the Sprint Cup season, new sponsors, a top 30 ranking and a contract through 2010 all mean that it will be financially tough to wrestle Allmendinger away from oval racing. Can he be bought out of any contract with RPM, of course he can?
The five time winner in Champ Car has the strongest road racing resume of any American candidate, whether he has the desire to make the late switch to the pinnacle of global open wheel racing is another matter.


4. Ryan Hunter Reay - IndyCar Series:
Ryan Hunter Reay's 3 US open wheel victories have been evenly distributed across his first six seasons of racing. All of them have been earned in machinery that would never be described as absolutely 'top level'. His performance for Vision Racing at the 2009 season opener will surely have raised some eyebrows within the USGPE brain trust and for this reason alone he has to be seen as a viable not to mention experienced and capable F1 candidate.


T5. Marco Andretti - IndyCar Series/A1GP:
Despite the extraordinary selling job by Mario during the USGPE launch on Speed TV, Marco has much to prove if he is to have any future in Grand Prix racing. He has shown sporadic flashes of speed on both street circuits and road courses over the last three seasons but certainly not enough to suggest that he can compete week-in-week-out in IndyCar let alone be competitive at the next level. The AGR A1GP program was, at best, inconclusive although we saw one or two flashes of what he may be capable of. It would make a lot of sense for him to put even more effort into that series in 2009/10. Marco's F1 test with Honda may have come too early for him and at 22 years of age he certainly still has time on his side.


T5. Danica Patrick - IndyCar Series:
Danica would be number one on this list if it was merely a gauge of revenue generation, publicity and hype. There is no way by any reasonable measure that she should be considered for an F1 seat based on her resume but the commercial considerations may well be too much to resist for Peter Windsor and his marketing men. In truth she would need at least a year of testing and a season of GP2 before she could make the transition to F1. That sort of conventional wisdom, however, may not enter into the decision making process at USGPE.


THE FUTURE

1. Alex Rossi - International Formula Master:
2008, Formula BMW Americas Champion & FBMW World Finals Winner
The 17 year old Nevada City, California native is the only driver in the rankings who is guaranteed to get seat time in an F1 car this season. He will do some demo laps in the current BMW F1 car at the 2009 World Finals as part of his prize for winning the 2008 title. In conversation with Rossi earlier this season, it became obvious that F1 is his goal and his odds of making it are vastly improved by plying his trade on the circuits of Europe. International Formula Master will become GP3 in 2010 and this year's winner will get a GP2 test at the end of the season.


2. Josef Newgarden - British Formula Ford/Formula Palmer Audi:
2009, 1 win (British Formula Ford), 2 wins (Formula Palmer Audi)
In an interview on Midweek Motorsport late last year, Josef Newgarden made it very clear that like Alex Rossi, Formula 1 is his ultimate goal and he too realizes that he must perform on some of the toughest proving grounds in the sport if he is to make it to the top. A win in the 'Kent' class of the 2008 British Formula Ford Festival was not a bad way to announce those intentions. He returned to the UK earlier this year to contest the British Formula Ford Championship and took one win in the triple-header opening weekend at Oulton Park, becoming the first American to win a round of the series since Patrick Long in 2001. In an effort to accelerate his development, Newgarden is also competing in the Formula Palmer Audi Series. FPA is a 'semi-pro' mixture of young talent and highly experienced and competent amateurs racing with turbo charged Audi power plants, slicks and wings. The 18 year old, Nashville born, Newgarden won the opening two rounds of the series and leads the standings after three races. The top three in the final standings will get a Formula 2 test at the end of the season.


3. Conor Daly - Star Mazda:
2008, Barber National Champion, Currently 3rd in Star Mazda standings
Conor Daly chose to stay in the United States to take up a fully funded season of Star Mazda racing which was the prize for winning the 2008 Barber National Series. Winning the Mazda title will earn him a full season of Atlantics in 2010 which will keep him in the USA for at least one more season. His ultimate aim is to follow his father's footsteps to Europe and he has already made his mark there by winning the 2008 Walter Hayes Trophy for Formula Ford cars. His Star Mazda season has been fraught to say the least (see video below) but despite some setbacks he is sitting third in the standings.




4. Gabby Chaves - Formula BMW Americas:
2009, Series Leader (2 wins)
16 year old Chaves arguably represents the longest term prospect of the future stars. On saying that, he has certainly taken the F BMW Americas series by the scruff of the neck so far this season, finishing no worse than second in any of the four rounds so far.


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Updated Driver Values

Hello All,

You may want to check the driver value list as it is now as up to date as I can possibly make it. Alex Lloyd in his shocking pink Sam Schmidt car has been on the track as has Paul Tracy. In fact Tracy topped the time sheets in Rookie Orientation yesterday with a lap in excess of 223mph.

The first official practice, for all drivers, is this afternoon and can be followed with live video as well as Timing & Scoring below.

Cheers,


The Commish

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It's the flu that reduces congestion!

In times of media-fueled health scares I tend to follow as many of the ridiculous instructions that TV news people can offer me. So with the recent swine flu outbreak I have avoided all pork products, stopped watching GolTV, disposed of all of the Doritos in the house, refused to venture outside my front door and even resisted the temptation to post on the Adrian Fernandez fan club message boards.

Tony Teixeira, the A1 GP supremo, has taken matters slightly further by canceling the finale of the series in Mexico City. This was scheduled for Sunday May 24th, a day (and weekend) that, for many of our listeners, is one of the best of the year. The logistical farce that was the 2008/09 A1GP Series almost triumphed over itself by consistently producing some of the best road racing seen anywhere on the planet. We have not only lost the chance of an exiting season finale in Mexico but all race fans have been denied a crucial chance to fully test our love of the sport and the limits of our endurance.

That whole weekend will be as much a test of stamina for the fan as it is for the 200 plus teams taking part in the Nurburgring 24 Hours starting on Saturday, May 23rd. Thank goodness there is no live radio coverage of that event this year, otherwise I would be in danger of overdosing on 5 Hour Energy and M&M's.

Here on the East Coast, Sunday will kick off with a frantic 6am search for live online coverage of the Porsche SuperCup and GP2 from Monaco before turning on Speed TV for the Grand Prix itself. I can enjoy breakfast with the best announcing crew in all of televised racing, topped and tailed by their refreshingly brief pre and post race coverage.

Richard Philippe wearing possibly 'The Greatest Spectacles in Racing', yesterday (Photo: www.flagworld.com)

The bridge to the Indy 500 pre-race would have been nicely spanned by the A1 GP sprint from Mexico, swine flu has put an end to that option. So part two of the day's festivities will have to comprise of me shouting at ABC's abysmal 'contractual obligation' build up to the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing'. I wonder who Jack Arute can 'kill' during the race? Jackie Stewart or Gordon Johncock possibly or maybe he could give Chris Amon a Grand Prix win or an F1 title?

The 'Late Great Formula 1 Champion' Stirling Moss on the set of 'Al Jolson's Grand Prix Adventures' in 1955 (Photo: www.nextcar.com)

So once Dixon, Franchitti, or both, drink the milk it's on to Charlotte to watch the '43 Greatest Drivers in the World' (I do love the willful ignorance of that expression) do battle. Sprint Cup racing is rapidly losing it's appeal for all but the diehard fan. The Coca Cola 600 is the racing equivalent, right now, of 'Revenge of the Sith' or 'The Matrix Revolutions', it will be viewed by many simply to complete the full day's experience in the full knowledge that it has lost much of its luster and will inevitably end in disappointment, regret, anger and moment of realization that those last four hours can never be retrieved.

For our European stalwarts, this is a day that stretches well into Monday morning and anyone of them who makes it to Victory Lane in Charlotte deserves credit and my sympathies. I can only presume that fans in the Southern Hemisphere simply call in sick on Monday or quit their jobs on an annual basis.

So with all of that to consider we must thank A1GP for having the sense to give the true race fan a break in the action on May 24th. Even if it is only for the half an hour it takes to heat up another frozen pizza.

Quick poll - 'Edgy' & 'Fun'

These colors are orange/brown & black, they are also, apparently 'edgy' & 'fun' (photo: Indy Star)

I think the colors are really sporty and very cool. It sort of reflects how I am. Edgy and fun.

- Danica Patrick, www.indycar.com

Is Brownie Orange really 'edgy' and 'fun'?
	Yes
	Don't be feckin daft
	If Danica says so
	Yes, if you consider rust 'edgy' and 'fun'
	I've seen edgier satsumas
pollcode.com free polls

Five Star JR - Could Hildebrand be the real deal?

If it was purely based on his popularity amongst the players of this Fantasy League, JR Hildebrand would already be Firestone Indy Lights Champion for 2009. That would, of course, be a terrific position to be in as he could start his discussions for 2010 by May 1st of 2009 and he may even be able to land a drive for the 500 this season. Townsend Bell managed a similar feat in slightly less timely fashion in 2001 when he parlayed a triumphant Indy Lights campaign into a number of late season races for Pat Patrick in CART.

Sadly for the 21 year old from Sausalito, popularity amongst a disparate group of global fantasy racing fans doesn't pay the mortgage. It hasn't helped him in the standings either as his two pole positions and chart topping speed at every round has only netted one win and fourth place in the current standings. Outright pace may not be the key to winning the Firestone Indy Lights title in 2009. Consistency and that inate ability to avoid trouble will most likley be the magic combination this season. Just ask Jonathan Summerton who tops the standings without having seen victory lane this year. In terms of this Fantasy League, it means having to try and pick a single driver to give you maximum points each week is almost impossible.

Hildebrand hit the ground running at Brands Hatch last weekend.

One of the flaws of the Firestone Indy Lights Series, in some respects, is the wide open and varied nature of the competition. The almost chaotic and unbalanced qualifying system on street courses and the clear disparity between some of the teams and drivers abilities when moving from those street courses to ovals, are two reasons why we have seen no clear superstar rising from the pack at this early stage. In 2008, Dillon Battistini won four races on ovals, more than any other driver, but could only manage 6th in the overall standings. The eventual series champion, Raphael Matos never found victory lane by turning left but took the top step of the podium three times on road courses.

Pure road racing talent is something Matos has in abundance, a fact underlined by the contents of his trophy cabinet which contains the 2007 Atlantic Series Cup alongside his 2008 FILS silverware. That ability clearly attracted Luczo Dragon Racing who signed him for 2009. If the IndyCar pit lane was not aware of Hildebrand's similar prowess it will have been forced to sit up take notice by his performances last weekend in Britain. Racing at Brands Hatch in A1GP for the Andretti Green run Team USA, the Californian put in the outfit's most competitive performance of the year. It would be unfair not to acknowledge the work that Marco Andretti and his engineers have done with the team to date and this was something that Hidlebrand was very quick to point out. "Marco and the whole team have done a great job over the last few races getting the setup pretty close to where it needs to be. I get the pleasure of being able to capitalize on that a little bit", Hildebrand remarked after qualifying and finishing fourth in Sunday's opening sprint race. This is absolutely true but it also plays down the difficulty that any new driver faces coming into this series with limits on tyre useage, no testing opportunities and extremely limited track time on race weekends.

Marco Andretti has seen some of his happiest moments away from the IndyCar Series

I talked about Marco's struggles, and his enigmatic career to date, in an earlier blog entry. Hildebrand's run to third place in the opening Sprint race does put some of those prior performances by Andretti and the whole AGR team in some perspective. It also raises the question of who will be in the seat when the A1 GP Series reconvenes on the Gold Coast in October. By then, the IndyCar and Indy Lights seasons will have drawn to a close and both AGR contracted drivers may see success in A1GP as key to their future careers. Michael Andretti may have the unenviable task of chosing between the driver who may need more seat time to hone his race craft and the Indy Lights Champion on an upward career curve ready to win races for team and country.


Presented by 'Car Jack Streets' for iPod and iPhone. Out Now!

Mark one for BMW

see more pwn and owned pictures

Genius!

The Southern California BMW dealers deserve a pat on the back for this one. :)